History
The name "Fat Freddys Drop" is a reference to a piece of
blotter art [1] featuring
Fat Freddy's Cat, which was circulating in the
NZ dance scene in the late 90's.
[2]
The band's first major release was a live album,
Live at the Matterhorn
, a
jam session recorded in a
Wellington night club. Until 2005, they were best known for live performances, and their song
Hope
. Their first studio album,
Based on a True Story
was released on 2 May, 2005. One day after release it had gone gold and was number one in the New Zealand album charts despite having little advertising or marketing. The album's first single, "Wandering Eye", spent 17 weeks in the
RIANZ Top 40 Singles Chart and peaked at number six.
Awards
At the 2005
New Zealand Music Awards, the band won awards in every category in which they were nominated:
Best Group
,
Best Album
,
Best New Zealand Roots Group
and the
Peoples Choice Award
.
They would again win the
People's Choice Award
at the 2006 New Zealand Music Awards. They also won the
Highest Selling NZ Album
award for their first studio album
Based On A True Story
. The video for a single on that album,
Wandering Eye
, won the title of
Best Music Video
.
[3]
On 18 December, 2005, listeners of
Gilles Peterson's
BBC Radio 1 'Worldwide' voted to award
Based On A True Story
the show's
Album of the Year Award
.
Discography
| Date of Release
| Title
| Label
| Chart
| Certification
| Catalog Number
|
| Albums
|
| 2001
| Live at the Matterhorn
| The Drop/KARTEL
|
| Gold (NZ)
| KCDL005
|
| 2005
| Based on a True Story
| The Drop/KARTEL/Sonar Kollektiv
| 1
| 7x Platinum (NZ)
| KCDL002/SK072CD/SK072LP
|
| 2009
| Dr Boondigga and the Big BW
|
| 1
| Platinum (NZ)
|
|
| EPs
|
| 2004
| Hope for a Generation
| KARTEL
| -
| -
| KCDL001
|
| Remixes
|
| 2003
| Five Day Night
| Carbon Records
| -
| -
|
|
| DVD
|
| 2006
| Fantastic Voyages Vol. 1
| The Drop
| -
| -
|
|
Featured appearances
The group have appeared on many compilations since their inception both in
New Zealand and internationally. The following is a list of these albums that have featured tracks by
Fat Freddys Drop
.
- (1999) - 21st Celebration
(NZ) (Radio Active) - Hope
- (2000) - One Love
(NZ) (Radio Active) - Wairunga Blues
- (2001) - Loop 002
(NZ) (Loop Recordings) - Little One (Live At McDonalds)
- (2001) - Styles Upon Styles Part 1
(NZ) (Sugarlicks) - Runnin' (Studio Version)
- (2002) - Loop 003
(NZ) (Loop Recordings) - Runnin
- (2002) - Loop 004
(NZ) (Loop Recordings) - Bluey
- (2002) - The Green Room 001
(NZ) (Loop Recordings) - Runnin
- (2003) - Weekend Sessions
(NZ/AUS) (Liberation Music) - Seconds
- (2003) - Whooper Chopper Seaside Extravaganza
(NZ) (Whopper Chopper Trust) - Willow Tree (Live in Berlin at Cafe Moskau)
- (2004) - The Eclectic Sessions Vol. 2
(UK) (Trust The DJ Records) - Hope
- (2004) - Best Seven Selections
(Best Seven/Sonar Kollektive) - Hope
& This Room
- (2004) - Conscious Roots
(NZ) (Capitol Music/Moving Production) - Hope
- (2005) - Conscious Roots 2
(NZ) (Capitol Music) - Ernie
- (2005) - Dub Conspiracy
(NZ) (record label unknown) - Mightnight Marauders (Live on Gilles Peterson)
- (2005) - The Green Room 004
(NZ) (Loop Recordings) - Hope
Singles
| Year
| Single
| Album
| Charted [4]
| Certification
|
| 2002
| "Midnight Marauders/Seconds"
|
| -
| -
|
| 2002
| "Midnight Marauders/Dub Workout"
|
| -
| -
|
| 2003
| "Hope/Bluey"
|
| -
| -
|
| 2003
| "This Room/Ernie"
|
| -
| -
|
| 2004
| "Hope 3 Generations Walking remix"
|
| -
| -
|
| 2004
| "Seconds/Grounded"
|
| -
| -
|
| 2005
| "Flashback/Midnight Marauders (Live on Giles Peterson)"
|
| -
| -
|
| 2005
| "Wandering Eye"
|
| 6
| -
|
| 2008
| "The Camel"
|
| 14
| -
|
| 2008
| "Pull The Catch"
|
| 17
| -
|
References
- Origin of Band Name
- Fat Freddys Drop at The Guardian
- Fat Freddys Drop awarded the People's Choice Award
- New Zealand single charts